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LETTER 308（第1页）

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“TheWorksofCharlesandMaryLamb—Volume6（.shg.tw）”

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LETTER308

CHARLESLAMBTOBERNARDBARTON

9Jan.，1823.

"

Throwyourselfontheworldwithoutanyrationalplanofsupport，beyondwhatthechanceemployofBooksellerswouldaffordyou"

!!!

Throwyourselfrather，mydearSir，fromthesteepTarpeianrock，slap-dashheadlonguponironspikes.Ifyouhadbutfiveconsolatoryminutesbetweenthedeskandthebed，makemuchofthem，andliveacenturyinthem，ratherthanturnslavetotheBooksellers.TheyareTurksandTartars，whentheyhavepoorAuthorsattheirbeck.Hithertoyouhavebeenatarmslengthfromthem.Comenotwithintheirgrasp.Ihaveknownmanyauthorsforbread，somerepining，othersenvyingtheblessedsecurityofaCountingHouse，allagreeingtheyhadratherhavebeenTaylors，Weavers，whatnot?ratherthanthethingstheywere.Ihaveknownsomestarved，sometogomad，oneclearfriendliterallydyinginaworkhouse.Youknownotwhatarapacious，dishonestsetthosebooksellersare.AskevenSouthey，who（asinglecasealmost）hasmadeafortunebybookdrudgery，whathehasfoundthem.Oyouknownot，mayyouneverknow!themiseriesofsubsistingbyauthorship.Tisaprettyappendagetoasituationlikeyoursormine，butaslaveryworsethanallslaverytobeabook-sellersdependent，todrudgeyourbrainsforpotsofaleandbreastsofmutton，tochangeyourfreethoughtsandvoluntarynumbersforungraciousTASK-WORK.Thosefellowshateus.ThereasonItaketobe，that，contrarytoothertrades，inwhichtheMastergetsallthecredit（aJewellerorSilversmithforinstance），andtheJourneyman，whoreallydoesthefinework，isinthebackground，inourworktheworldgivesallthecredittoUs，whomtheyconsiderastheirJourneymen，andthereforedotheyhateus，andcheatus，andoppressus，andwouldwringthebloodofusout，toputanothersixpenceintheirmechanicpouches.Icontend，thataBooksellerhasarelativehonestytowardsAuthors，notlikehishonestytotherestoftheworld.B[aldwin]，whofirstengagdmeasElia，hasnotpaidmeupyet（noranyofuswithoutrepeatedmortifyingapplials），yethowtheKnavefawnedwhileIwasofservicetohim!YetIdaresaythefellowispunctualinsettlinghismilk-score，&c.KeeptoyourBank，andtheBankwillkeepyou.TrustnottothePublic，youmayhang，starve，drownyourself，foranythingthatworthyPersonagecares.IblesseverystarthatProvidence，notseeinggoodtomakemeindependent，hasseenitnextgoodtosettlemeuponthestablefoundationofLeadenhall.Sitdown，goodB.B.，intheBankingOffice;what，istherenotfromsixtoElevenP.M.6daysintheweek，andistherenotallSunday?Fie，whatasuperfluityofmanstime，—ifyoucouldthinkso!Enoughforrelaxation，mirth，converse，poetry，goodthoughts，quietthoughts.Othecorrodingtorturingtormentingthoughts，thatdisturbtheBrainoftheunluckywight，whomustdrawuponitfordailysustenance.HenceforthIretractallmyfondplaintsofmercantileemployment，lookuponthemasLoversquarrels.Iwasbuthalfinearnest.Wele，deadtimberofadesk，thatmakesmelive.Alittlegrumblingisawholesomemedicineforthespleen;butinmyinnerheartdoIapproveandembracethisourclosebutunharassingwayoflife.Iamquiteserious.IfyoucansendmeFox，Iwillnotkeepitsixweeks，andwillreturnit，withwarmthankstoyourselfandfriend，withoutblotordogsear.Youmuchobligemebythiskindness.

Yourstruly，

C.LAMB.

PleasetodirecttomeatIndiaHo.infuture.[?Iam]notalwaysatRussellSt.

[BartonhadlongbeenmeditatingtheadvisabilityofgivinguphisplaceinthebankatWoodbridgeanddependinguponhispen.Lambsletterofdissuasionisnottheonlyonewhichhereceived.Byronhadwrittentohimin1812:"

Youdeservesuccess;butweknew，beforeAddisonwrotehisCato，thatdesertdoesnotalwaysmandit.Butsupposeitattained—

Youknowwhatillstheauthorslifeassail—

Toil，envy，want，thepatron，andthejail.

Donotrenouncewriting，butnevertrustentirelytoauthorship.Ifyouhaveaprofession，retainit;itwillbelikePriorsfellowship，alastandsureresource."

Bartonhadnowbrokenagainintodissatisfactionwithhislife.Hedidnot，however，leavethebank.

Southeymadeno"

fortune"

byhispen.Healmostalwayshadtoforestallhisnewworks.]